Immediately on publishing my Daily Cup, “Armed,” I realized that it might be interpreted as a commentary on recent events. While i, like everyone else, have been keeping up with the news, I don’t know what happened there and have no conclusions or judgments about fault on either side. More than anything it was a reflection on my own experiences in this increasingly armed society.
Ron Hicks, Parish Verger, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Washington DC, 19-August-2014.
The Daily Cup 
Ron – Glad you added the clarification I did wonder, but knowing you as well as I do, did not assume you were taking sides. While I truly believe this was a preventable tragedy, I am withholding opinion until the responsible parties assemble the best set of “facts” that can be determined. Then I guess it is up to the court system. My dad was a federal probation officer who worked with Judge Frank Johnson in Alabama during the 50s, 60s and 70s, and he carried a .38 “banker special” in his car when he was traveling in rural areas. As far as I know, he never fired it except on a range nor drew it during his career. He did not live to see the arms race between police and criminals, but I know he felt great empathy with the parolees he dealt with, and I believe he would have appreciated the prayer you identified.